Rock puncher



United States Patent Cecil A. Cummings R.R. 1, Norman, Indiana 47 264731,050

May 22, 1968 Nov. 17, 1970 inventor App]. No. Filed Patented ROCKPUNCHER 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl.

241/301 Int. Cl B021: 23/00 Field of Search 301,202, 186 Consulted Yosti References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1915 Considine l/l919 Howiett8/1946 Kinney et a1 FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1960 U.S.S.R.

Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost AnorneyWoodard, Weikart, Emhardt &Naughton ABSTRACT: This invention relates to rock or stone crushingmachines; and more particularly to a puncher that is mounted on top of acrushing machine for the purpose of dislodging rocks or boulders whenthey are caught in the jaws of the crusher or its feeder; the puncherthus causing the rocks or the like to go on through the machine.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,668

Sheet 1 of 2 J IO 8' INVENTOR FIG 2 CECIL A. CUMMINGS I l ROCK PUNCIIERThis invention consists of a rectangular metal boxlike structure whosemajor parts are two spaced and parallel I-beams that extend the fulllength of the structure. A large disc is mounted on the underside of thelower flange of each I-beam by means of ways" so that the disc can bemoved along the underside of the aforesaid boxlike structure. This isdone by means of a horizontally disposed hydraulic cylinder of thedouble acting type. This is a cylinder having a piston from each end ofwhich extends a piston rod to which is connected a cable that extendsaround a pulley that is located at eachend of the aforesaid structureand then attached to the previously mentioned disc. The disc rotatablysupports structure that in turn supports a hydraulic cylinder on eachside thereof. The piston rod of each cylinder has its lower endswingably secured to mechanism that supports a large hydraulic cylinderbetween two members of the last mentioned structure. The piston rod ofthe last mentioned hydraulic cylinder is supported by a cone-shapedboxlike support that has two pipes, end to end, extending outward fromthe apex of the support in order to provide support for the piston rodwhich has its lower end fitted with a replacable bit adapted to pushrock or boulders through any rock crusher on which this invention ismounted. An electric hoist canbe mounted on one end of the aforesaidrectangular metal boxlike structure for use in handling large rocks orboulders. This invention is operated by controls located near thecontrols of the rock crusher whose operator will also operate this rockpuncher.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a rock puncherof the character described that will eliminate the jamming of a rock orstone crusher by dislodging the rocks or even boulders when they arecaught in the jaws of the feeder of the crusher.

Another object of this invention is to provide, a rock puncher of thecharacter described that can be mounted on the top of any rock or stonecrusher and operated by the operator of the crusher. v

Still anotherobject of this invention is to provide a rock puncher ofthe character described which is activated by hydraulic'and/or electricmechanism that will hereinafter be described.

Other objects of this invention will appear from time to time in-thecourse of the reading of this specification and its appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the three FIGS. of the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged viewof that portion of this invention that isenclosed within the arrowed ellipse and indicated by the number 2 inFIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is asectional view of this invention, taken substantially alongline 3-3 of FIG. 1, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of this'invention, taken substantially alongline 4-4 of FIG. 1, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the several views of this invention, like parts are indicated by likereference numbers.

The reference number 5 indicates this rock puncher in its entirety.

The puncher consists of a rectangular metal boxlike structure 6containing two spaced and parallel I-beams 7. The flange 8 ofthe twoaforesaid I-beams 7 is machined so that the disc 9, whose upper surfaceis also machined, can be slidably moved along the full length of theaforesaid boxlike structure 6, as will hereinafter be described. Aninverted L-shaped way is welded to the underside ofa plurality of spacedinverted L-shaped gusset plates 11, which are in turn welded orotherwise secured to the upper surface of the aforesaid disc 9, therebyslidably securing the disc to the underside of the aforesaid I-beams 7since there is a way 10 and its supporting gusset plates 11 on each sideofthe flange 8 of the two I-beams 7. The disc 9 and the yet to bedescribed structure and mechanism which it supports are slidably movedalong the underside of the -l-beams 7 and boxlike structure 6 by meansof a 1 end of which extends a piston rod. A cable 13 extends from theouter ends of the aforesaid piston rods and around the pulleys 14. Thereis one pulley at each outer end of the aforesaid l-beams 7 secured tothe already mentioned disc 9, thereby providing a means of moving thedisc and structure attached thereto longitudinally along the undersideof the aforesaid boxlike structure 6 of this invention. The twoaforesaid piston rods and the connection of the ends of the cable 13 tothe disc 9 are not shown in any of the views of the accompanyingdrawings for reasons of clarity. Details of construction of the cableand pulleys can be changed to suit the desires of the manufacturer ofthis rock puncher, if one so wishes. The aforesaid hydraulic cylinder 12is secured to the underside of two spaced and parallel brackets 15 thatare welded or otherwise secured to the upper flange of one of theaforesaid I- beams 7 as is clearly shown in FIGS. I and 3 of the accom:

panying drawings.

A turntable 16, that is the same diameterv as that of the aforesaid disc9, is located directly under the disc which supports the turntable bymeans of a plurality of radially spaced U-shaped guides 17 which arewelded to the periphery of the disc 9, as one'can readily see by lookingat FIG. 2 of the drawings. A flat head bolt 18 passes vertically upwardthrough the center of the aforesaid turntable 16 to which the bolt iswelded or otherwise secured. The shank of the bolt passes through boththe aforesaid disc 9'and the ball or roller bearing 19 on top of whichis screwed nut 20. One end of the arm 21 is secured to the aforesaidbolt 18 while the other end of the same arm is swingably secured to theouter endof the piston of hydraulic cylinder 22, which is supportedwithin the aforesaid boxlike structure 6 by any desired means. Theactivation of the piston within this lastmentioned hydraulic cylinderwall rotate the aforesaid turntable 16.

Looking now at FIGS. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings it will beseen that two spaced and parallel triangular shaped plates 23, eachplate of whichhas a rounded apex, is welded or otherwise secured to theunderside of the aforesaid turntable 16 for the support of the hydrauliccylinders 25, 26, and30. Each of the aforesaid plates 23 is braced bytwo spaced and parallel triangular gusset plates 27, as one can see bylooking at the already mentioned FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The topof the aforesaid hydraulic cylinders 25 and 26 are hingedly secured tothe triangular shaped plates 23 while the outer end of the piston rod ofeach cylinder is swingably-secured to the outer end of the U-shaped arm28 that has its inner end secured to one end of pin 29 which issupported by the triangular shaped plate 23 through which the pin passesfor-securement to the large hydraulic cylinder 30 that provides thepunching power for this invention. It will be seen on looking at FIG. 3of the accompanying drawings that there are actually two of theaforesaid U-shaped arms 28 and pins 29. One of the Ushaped arms 28 andpins 29 is located on each side of this invention: one of the arms 28and pins 29 for the hydraulic cylinder 25 and the other of the arms 28and pins 29 for the hydraulic cylinder 26.

Continuing to look at FIGS. land 3 of the drawings it will be seen thatthe lower end of the aforesaid large hydraulic cylinder 30 is fittedwith a cone-shaped boxlike support 31 for j sleeve 37. The aforesaidsleeves 35 and 37 provide additional stability and support-for thepiston rod 32 as it moves up and down in the dis'lodging of the rocks orboulders when this invention is in operation. The lower end of theaforesaid piston rod 32 is provided with a replacable bit 38 of anydesired design.

The way in which this invention of a rock puncher 5 is used will befully understood by those experienced in the operation of rock crusherssince this punch can be mounted on the feeding hopper of any rockcrusher in a way that will not interfere with the rocks being fed intothe hopper by a conveyor or any other desired means. The aforesaid bit38 is always above the outside limits of the flail when the crusher is aswinging hammer crusher, and above the maximum limits of the jaws whenthe crusher is of a type that embodies jaws for the crushing of rocksand/or stones. The five hydraulic cylinders 12,22, 25, 26 and operatethis invention when activated by hydraulic fluid that is fedthroughtubes or pipes to the cylinders from any desired source. The hydraulictubes or pipes and the controls are not shown in the accompanyingdrawings nor described in this specification since they are admittedlyold in form and no claim is made for the same. The controls for theaforesaid hydraulic cylinders are located within reach ofthc controls ofthe rock crusher and are manipulated by the operator of the crusher.

The only part ofthis invention of mine that l have not previouslymentioned is actually an accessory in the form of an electric hoistwhich is suitably mounted on a carrier 39 that is located at one end ofthe aforesaid boxlike structure 6. The supporting mechanism of the hoistcan be similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawingfor the support of the large hydraulic cylinder 30. The aforesaid hoistcan be operated by means of a solenoid switch that is also within reachof the operator of the rock crusher.

This invention is subject to any and all changes in details ofconstruction and/or modifications in so long as the changes and/ormodifications fall within the scope and intent of the appended claims.For example, roller or ball bearings can be placed between the lowersurface of the disc 9 and the upper surface of the'aforesaid turntable16 in order to permit less friction between these two parts as theturntable rotates in the operation of this invention. In fact, most, ifnot all, of the moving parts of this invention can be provided withroller or ball bearings for increased efficiency of this invention. Theaforesaid hydraulic cylinder 30 canbe replaced by an airoperatedcylinder as can any of the other cylinders in this invention and theinvention will still fall within the scope and intent of the appendedclaims.

l claim:

l. A rock puncher of the character described, comprising a horizontallydisposed rectangular boxlike structure having a disc slidably secured tothe underside thereof, the said disc supporting structure embodying alarge hydraulic cylinder containing a piston whose piston rod projectsdown and outward from the bottom thereof, the said piston rod having areplaceable bit secured to the lower end thereof adapted to dislodgerocks and boulders from a rock crusher when the said rock puncher hasbeen mounted on the feeder of the said crusher and activated by theoperator of the said crusher, saidboxlike structure embodying two spacedand parallel I-beams, one of which supports a horizontally disposedhydraulic cylinder having a piston rod projecting out of each endthereof, the two piston rods being connected by mechanism to the saiddisc, said mechanism consisting of a cable having one end connected tothe outer end of one of the piston rods of the said horizontallydisposed cylinder, and the other end of the said cable being connectedto the said disc after passing over one or more pulleys while a secondcable likewise has one end connected to the outer end of the otherpiston rod and the other end of the same cable being connected to thesaid disc after passing over one or more pulleys, said disc beingsecured to the underside of the lower flange of one of the said l-beamsby two machined ways, the said structure supported by the said discembodying a turntable of the same diameter as that of the said disc, thesaid turntable being secured to the underside of the said disc by bothaplurality of U-shaped guides located around the periphery of the saiddisc and the said turntable as well as by a vertically disposed boltthat extends upward through the center of both the said turntable andthe said disc, the upper end of the said bolt being provided with ahorizontally disposed arm that is swingably connected to a hydrauliccylinder adapted to cause the said turntable to rotate when the saidhydraulic cylinder is activated.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein two spaced and parallel triangularshaped plates extend downward from the underside of the said turntable,the said plates supporting in a swingable amount the said largehydraulic cylinder.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the swinging of the said amount isaccomplished by means of two hydraulic cylinders one of which is securedto the outside of each of the said triangular shaped plates.

"H050 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F C(DRRECTEQN 7 Patent{M01153 Dated November IL, 1970 Inventor(s) It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 65, "flange 8 of the' should be "flange 8 of each ofthe-- Column 4, line 20, "of the other piston rod" should be --of theother said piston rod-- Column 4, line 38, "amount" should be --mount--Column 4, line 40, "amount" should be -mount-- SIGNED Mm smm FEB 9 m (mmm EamaM- E SGHUYIIER LAttesting Officer Gomissioner of Fetal!

